Vacation Home Spotlights Swedish Sauna Ritual

Wingårdhs Architects converted an old farm in southern Sweden into a vacation home for a family from nearby Malmo. The original farm buildings — cow shed, stables, hay loft and barn — were transformed into bedrooms, a kitchen and a gym.

A freestanding annex, the Mill House, was added to the late-19th-century residence to serve as a guest house and sauna. The most prominent feature is a horizontal gable window of adjoining squares.

As a whole, the exterior has an archetypal simplicity that recalls the mill after which the home was named. “In combination with the intimate size, it promotes the atmosphere of a Zen master’s tea house,” the architects said.

The craftsmanship and materials (oak and limestone) infuse the atmosphere of the annex with warmth and authenticity. Floor-to-ceiling windows soften the indoor-outdoor boundaries and bring in an abundance of natural light.

Designed as a manifestation of the Swedish sauna and bathing ritual, the Mill House includes a sauna and space for changing clothes, washing and relaxing. The ritual ends with an invigorating dip in the small outdoor pool. [Information provided by Rasmus Wærn on behalf of Wingårdhs Architects]